Field-driven helix unwinding in antiferroelectric liquid crystal cells - art. no. 050701

Citation
La. Parry-jones et Sj. Elston, Field-driven helix unwinding in antiferroelectric liquid crystal cells - art. no. 050701, PHYS REV E, 6305(5), 2001, pp. 0701
Citations number
16
Categorie Soggetti
Physics
Journal title
PHYSICAL REVIEW E
ISSN journal
1063651X → ACNP
Volume
6305
Issue
5
Year of publication
2001
Part
1
Database
ISI
SICI code
1063-651X(200105)6305:5<0701:FHUIAL>2.0.ZU;2-0
Abstract
The interaction between the antiferroelectric helix and an electric field a pplied perpendicular to its axis is investigated, both experimentally and t heoretically. A two-stage switching process is observed: (i) in the pretran sitional regime the helix distorts and then unwinds to form a nonhelical an tiferroelectric state, with the plane of the molecules parallel to the appl ied field; (ii) at higher fields switching to the ferroelectric state occur s. The mechanism for unwinding is the interaction of the applied field with a polarization that is induced by a change to the anticlinic ordering.